How a nod to Australia’s NBA pioneers has Johnny Furphy on the cusp of achieving his hoops dreams
Melbourne-born sharpshooter Johnny Furphy is hoping to walk in the path of Australia’s NBA pioneers at the 2024 NBA draft, with ‘the wall of inspiration’ further pushing his career aspirations.
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Potential Australian NBA players don’t have to search far for inspiration to join the country’s long list of stars to don the sneakers in the world’s best basketball league.
Plastered on the wall inside the locker room at the Centre of Excellence (COE) academy in Canberra is a picture collage of Australia’s NBA alumni, dating back to the legendary Luc Longley as the first in 1991.
The likes of Andrew Bogut, Dante Exum, Matthew Dellavedova, Patty Mills and Josh Giddey all feature. The final spot on the wall is blank, with only the words: ‘who’s next?’ standing out in bold letters.
Melbourne-born sharpshooter Johnny Furphy has lent on the wall of inspiration for motivation to achieve his hoops dreams.
On Thursday under the bright lights at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, Furphy will join the wall when he is selected in the first-round of the NBA draft.
It’s a remarkable achievement for the 19-year-old late-bloomer who was repeatedly told he wasn’t good enough as a junior.
Furphy used the rejections as fuel to fire his aspirations of one day playing in the NBA like his childhood idols.
Video review and feedback for the National Performance Camp athletes in the state of the art change rooms at the â¦@BACentreofExcelâ© locker rooms pic.twitter.com/zLYSyUBSHZ
— Centre of Excellence (@BACentreofExcel) January 24, 2023
Robbie McKinlay – the head coach of the men’s program at the COE – has played a vital role in the young guard’s development.
It’s why Furphy has invited McKinlay to join him in the green room at the draft in New York.
“For Johnny to invite me over to the draft to lap up the experience alongside his family – that says everything about the kid,” McKinlay said.
“He sent me a text and said he’d love for me to be there and he’d cover all costs. I just thought, ‘wow, it’s the last thing you expect.
“It shows Johnny’s character. He knows where has come from, what he is doing and he shows that appreciation.”
According to McKinlay, Furphy’s strong personality and resilience will help him thrive under pressure in the NBA.
— Centre of Excellence (@BACentreofExcel) December 2, 2023
The world’s best basketball league regularly throws up road blocks, which not only test you on the court, but also off it.
And while Furphy’s rise to the NBA via the COE and one NCAA college season with Kansas has been meteoric, he possesses the poise and drive to excel.
McKinlay believes these winning qualities have been built through the challenges the guard faced as a junior baller.
“The thing that sticks out with Johnny is he got told no a lot in his younger days,” he said.
“He didn’t make a state Victorian team until the bottom-age 20s and he only made that team because Victoria only had two teams.
“He didn’t make the top team, but he just kept coming back and he has been persistent.”
Furphy also has the basketball smarts, but more importantly, he is willing to listen and learn.
These traits have endeared Australian players like Dellavedova, Mills and Bogut to NBA coaches and officials for years.
Furphy looks set to continue the proud tradition, no matter where he is drafted.
“The thing with Johnny is that he is a thinker and he takes a lot of information on board,” McKinlay said.
“He’ll think about it and then make his assessment. He also likes being coached and always has.
“That is what is really going to help him in the NBA. He is easy to get along with, he can play with good players and he’ll listen to the veteran players.
“Johnny is also an even-keeled kid, so that will help him ride the setbacks that come his way. His personality helps him deal with those situations.
“Johnny is just one of those kids that everyone likes. He is a great person, so anything positive that happens for him, everyone is happy.”
Johnny Furphy scorching in stretches at the NBA draft combine 3-point shooting drill. pic.twitter.com/UgbJa9noUo
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 13, 2024
Furphy’s rise is a testament to the COE in Canberra – a respected program that has paved the way for countless Australians to reach the NBA.
McKinlay says the program is successful as it allows athletes with a similar driven mindset to focus on basketball and being better players and people.
The coaches also instil athletes with the importance of the past graduates who have paved the way for Australia to become a proven NBA breeding ground.
“It’s why we have the pictures of every Australian who has played a minute in the NBA in the locker room and we reinforce it every day,” he said.
“One thing we do a good job of is talking about the culture and the players who have been here in the past who have set the standards.
“There is a responsibility to continue carrying the baton.”
Originally published as How a nod to Australia’s NBA pioneers has Johnny Furphy on the cusp of achieving his hoops dreams
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